Kalen DeBoer jokes Alabama will use Pat McAfee, College GameDay crew picking against Alabama as motivation

Motivation continues to come from unexpected places for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Head coach Kalen DeBoer suggested Saturday that the team may lean into it as preparation ramps up for the Rose Bowl.

Following Alabama’s 34–24 comeback win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the first round of the College Football Playoff, DeBoer was asked about comments made earlier in the evening on College GameDay by Pat McAfee and company.

McAfee addressed the situation and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, after hearing the Crimson Tide quarterback credit the media for fueling the team’s turnaround in Norman: “Please tell Ty and the boys that any of us that picked against him is not disrespectful,” McAfee told DeBoer. 

“We are still big fans, because I heard Ty afterwards shout out the media for being a motivator. We would like to not be on that side of things.”

When informed of the wish DeBoer responded with a grin, and a hint that Alabama won’t ignore the narrative: “There might be pictures that go up on our screens,” DeBoer joked, drawing laughter.

More on the Alabama Crimson Tide, victory in CFP over Oklahoma

Alas, McAfee, Desmond Howard and Brian Bosworth all picked Oklahoma to win the matchup, but the Crimson Tide proved them wrong. Nick Saban was the lone member of the panel to select Alabama.

After the win, Simpson didn’t shy away from acknowledging the role outside doubt played in Alabama’s response after falling behind 17–0:  “I guess we can thank you guys for that,” Simpson said in the postgame press conference. “Y’all kind of wrote us off in a sort of way. So, appreciate that.”

All told, Simpson finished the game 18-for-29 passing for 232 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He led his team through a stretch where Alabama scored 27 unanswered points to seize control.

Linebacker Deontae Lawson echoed that sentiment, saying Alabama is often at its best when it feels doubted: “Ty just said it right there,” Lawson said. “Tried to write us off. That’s when we’re at our best.”

As Alabama prepares for its Rose Bowl matchup against Indiana, DeBoer made it clear that perceived slights, even lighthearted ones, won’t go unused. It’s all hands on deck in their pursuit for a national title in Tuscaloosa.